The Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama has condemned and refuted reports that government intends to criminalize homosexual acts saying that sexual orientation is a private matter not a state business.

[Iran]Iran must release student pictured 'dressed as woman'Amnesty International has called for the release of an Iranian student leader whose arrest and detention have inspired men to cover their hair in an online solidarity photo campaign. Majid Tavakkoli was arrested in student protests on 7 December and was later pictured wearing female clothes in an apparent attempt to humiliate him.

[Thailand]No skirts for sex-change graduatesThe Council of University Presidents of Thailand (CUPT) meeting on Monday has refused to allow male-to-female transgender graduates to wear woman's clothing to receive their degrees.